New York is investigating an American company accused of selling millions of fake followers to social media accounts, the state’s chief prosecutor said Saturday. The announcement from Attorney General Eric Schneiderman follows an in-depth New York Times investigation into Devumi, which it alleges has sold automated followers to politicians, celebrities and other public figures, often using the names, pictures and personal details of real people on those bot accounts. If the accusations prove true, Schneiderman tweeted, Devumi may be found guilty of impersonation and deception. The violations alleged in the Times, he added, unfairly allow people with money to buy “apparent influence.”

Source: Huffington Post January 28, 2018 23:48 UTC